Our History

The Founder Manuel Figueiredo Nascimento

Manuel Figueiredo Nascimento was born on September 13, 1941, in Moradia, Penalva do Castelo, Viseu. He studied only up to the fourth grade, but from an early age showed remarkable determination. At 16, he began his professional life, moving across several Portuguese cities, including Viseu, Porto and Lisbon.

Already married to Maria Emília Batista Nascimento, he emigrated to the United States of America, where he worked as an electrician at The Okonite Company, a pioneer in producing electrical insulators and cables in the country. He quickly stood out not only for his technical skill but also for his unique ability to find solutions to problems that even engineers from other areas could not solve. Many described him as a true “jack of all trades”. His dedication was such that, by the end of his stay, his supervisor publicly acknowledged that although he initially doubted hiring him, Manuel proved to be better than expected. He even wrote him a recommendation letter encouraging any company to hire him without hesitation.

After returning to Portugal, he lived in Lisbon while his daughter completed secondary school. He then decided to go back to his roots in Moradia and start a new chapter by working independently. After various experiences and attempts, he remembered something he had seen in the United States that did not yet exist in Portugal shower doors. This idea led to the creation of MFN Lda.

During the early years, besides shower doors, Manuel also produced automatic folding garage doors, becoming the first in Portugal to manufacture them. Their durability was so remarkable that many are still in use today, including those at the Volunteer Firefighters of Penalva do Castelo. He later chose to abandon that line of production to focus exclusively on the bathroom sector, where he found the path to the company’s future.

Founded in 1984 in a small manufacturing unit of 250 m², MFN GOLDSTAR began producing custom-made shower enclosures. Growth was rapid, and in 1988, with the construction of a new facility of more than 1000 m², the company expanded its range of models, improved processes, and enhanced service quality. Visionary and determined, Manuel not only created innovative products but also developed and adapted machines to meet the specific needs of production.

Thanks to his dedication, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit, MFN GOLDSTAR established itself as a trusted brand in the market, consistently investing in quality, innovation, and modern design. Today, it continues to grow and reach new partners and markets while keeping alive its founder’s legacy of transforming challenges into opportunities and creating unique solutions for customers.